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A long serving GP is to retire from practicing after his Sittingbourne surgery was found to not meet any of the eleven standards put in place by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Dr Bijan Saha will leave the Lakeside Medical Centre at the end of this month after the report found patients were put at “unacceptable risk”. The damning CQC report followed an unannounced inspection in March.

The Care Quality Commission found that patients were placed at 'unacceptable risk' at a GP surgery in Kent.

It identified breaches of patient confidentiality and prescription errors that risked 'very serious consequences' at the Lakeside Medical Centre in Sittingbourne.

Yet, despite a damning report by the Care Quality Commission, Dr Bijan Saha's practice is tonight open and seeing patients. There is, though, no sign of Dr Saha. Sarah Saunders spoke to Michele Golden, Head of GP Inspections for the South East with the Care Quality Commission.

Health officials have been forced to take action against a GP after identifying "serious failings" at his practice in Sittingbourne in Kent.

The Care Quality Commission said patients at Dr Bijan Saha's surgery are being placed at "unacceptable levels of risk" after the practice failed to meet 11 standards of safety and patient care.

Inspectors concluded that the failings were having a "major impact" on patients. Officials identified problems with privacy and dignity for patients, cleanliness and medication errors.The regulator is taking enforcement action against the surgery but cannot comment on the type of action.

"The issues that we have identified at Dr Saha's practice are very serious, and we'd urge anyone who uses it to read our full report. The failings detailed in the report show why we've decided to take action against him..."